Maybe it wasn't the ESS Raven, but it was something complex requiring unique plastic parts that surprised me.
I remember it was going to be over $50 which was way over any of their previous kits.
May have been the Titan IIIE.
Now that I think about it, I seem to recall them going under before it was produced.
I was there from beginning to end and thankfully I was NOT one of those that got stiffed in the end. That outfit and Launch Magazine are the two biggest reasons I NEVER pre-pay or "finance" operations of kits not able to ship instantly upon order.
There is a current company that has beautiful 3D printed kits that is notorious for wanting up-front money before producing kits. Probably will never own/build any of their kits unless they are 3rd party sold on ebay. I don't "finance" hobby kit production. If you can't afford to do business in the TRADITIONAL way, you can't afford to be in business.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

Does anyone recall the name of the people behind PDR?

And funny story. I can't remember which kit it was but I wanted to buy one but was worried my kids would see the "Pimp Daddy" on the kit and I'd have to explain what a pimp was, LOL. So I sent them an email and very soon thereafter they became "PDR." I was always pretty impressed by that. they made nice kits, by the way.

Seems to me that one of them was named Eric, but that's all I can dust off at the moment.

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

Eric was the Dad and Caleb was the son at PDR.

I really liked their kits too.
Was really disappointed when they folded up and the way they did it.

Really liked the Hawks Hobby upscales, Rocketpad, and Thrustline too.
Many good ones have came and gone over the last 20 years.
Q-Modeling still has a banner ad here and has been "coming back" for the last DECADE.
I think they have fallen into the "Pure Vaporware" category. I wish that wasn't the case, but I think we will get Estes to start producing Enerjet F67's again before they are back.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

I was reading up on the bad ending of PDR over at TRF this afternoon. One of the guys was thrilled that he had received a message about an upcoming refund. He was looking forward to using it on a Q-Modeling Andromeda. I immediately thought of you.
Inflight was another one that I miss a lot, along with Hawks Hobby, Rocketpad and Thrustline. I think I have two Thrustline kits, but several from Inflight. He came around right at the time when I had regularly some extra cash on hand. Great kits. Sorry to see him go.

__________________
Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Centuri Mini Dactyl Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc Starfighter Scorpion Estes F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark, Groonie Der V 1/2

I just picked up a Rocketpad Astron Starlight on ebay for a really reasonable price of like $22.00

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !

What I miss most is the McLawhorn family Semroc.

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Scott D. Hansen
Ye Olde Rocket Shoppe - Your One Stop BAR Shoppe!
Ye Olde Rocket Plans - OOP Rocket Plans From 38 Companies!
Ye Olde Rocket Forum
WOOSH NAR Section #558

A *big* +1 to that!!!

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Yup. Made an order to eRockets tonight and was glad to see a few good birds still available, and at least they are.

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Roy
nar12605

Wow, that list of PDR kits is impressive! I vaguely remember the Pimp Daddy reference, but I don't think that I was really very active in the hobby when they were in business, I guess.

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Lee Reep
NAR 55948

Projects: Semroc Saturn 1B, Ken Foss Designs Mini Satellite Interceptor
In the Paint Shop: Nothing! Too cold!
Launch-Ready: Farside-X, Maxi Honest John, Super Scamp